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Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Pregnant at 19, Married at 20, Separated at 23

    Pregnant at 19, Married at 20, Separated at 23

    Biola Makanjuola a Canada-based Nigerian relationship coach took to her Facebook page to share her experience of getting pregnant when she was 19 and her marriage to her baby daddy at age 20 thinking a marriage to her child’s father would fix things for her and then separation at 23 due to emotional abuse and a toxic relationship.

    She encourages people who have experienced similar feelings of despair.

    She says:

    “Got pregnant at the age of 19, was zero’d out, condemned, alone and lost. Became a mother & thought it best to make it official with my son’s dad at the age of 20

    Got into unhealthy patterns in our relationship that led to emotional abuse and toxicity for the most part. Finally got the courage to separate at the age of 23 after going through an abortion and Sexually Transmitted Disease.

    This started my downward spiral into involving myself in multiple toxic relationships between the ages of 24 – 27 Confused, lost, dark, toxic relationships was my drug of choice. Felt unworthy, self-esteem dragging on the floor begging to be picked up, had little or no confidence, gave up my power to define who I was to other people because I just hated the woman I had become. I constantly questioned why I was so different and abnormal.

    My body defined my worth. I clearly had nothing to offer. My single motherhood didn’t even help. They said I couldn’t do any better because of my baggage. I agreed with them and gave them my power. It was their word over mine.

    Finally got tired of engaging in this toxic cycle and decided to embrace my difference. At this point, I was tired! I was sick! I was done! I found my light towards the end of 2016.

    Found the love I had been seeking the whole time in myself. Things started clicking. I found my purpose. I realized I had a story to tell and was determined to share. I was worthy and enough the whole time and didn’t even know it. I finally found my voice and I promised myself to speak my truth.

    I promised God that if he took me out of my misery and showed me the way, I will spend the rest of my life serving.
    Currently serving and growing a tribe of women who believe in their power to create their stories and would do anything to make it happen”.

     

     

  • ‘TETFUND provides N900m basic infrastructure in Zungeru Poly’

    ‘TETFUND provides N900m basic infrastructure in Zungeru Poly’

    The Rector of Zungeru Polytechnic in Niger, Dr Umar Ahmed, on Thursday lauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND ) for spending over N900 million to provide basic infrastructure in the institution.

    Ahmed disclosed this while conducting newsmen round some of the capital projects executed by the fund.

    He said that already, all capital projects executed by the fund had been inaugurated.

    He explained that the School of Engineering, School of Environmental Studies, ICT Centre, Quantity Survey Department and solar power were constructed and inaugurated.

    He said that the provision of the facilities had greatly assisted in improving the learning atmosphere in the institution.

    He said that the institution was preparing additional proposal to the fund to construct new Department of Agricultural Technology.

    He said that the department would provide required power to rapidly develop the sector for optimal goal.

    He explained that the institution was going into commercial farming to generate revenue, to ensure proper management.

    “We don’t have to wait for government’s monthly subversion to run our affairs, hence the need for us to utilise what we have to get what we want.

    “We will go into all-year farming system to produce assorted food crops for sale to members of the public.”

    NAN

  • MAPOLY upgrade: Amosun allays fears of students

    MAPOLY upgrade: Amosun allays fears of students

    Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun says the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic ( MAPOLY ), Abeokuta, will continue to run its normal academic programmes in  the next four years.

    Amosun also dismissed insinuations that the institution had gone into extinction following its upgrade to a university.

    He made the clarification when he spoke to protesting students under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Students ( NANS ), Ogun chapter, at the Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office in Abeokuta.

    The state government recently upgraded MAPOLY to Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology ( MAUSTECH ).

    It also created Ogun State Polytechnic to be located at Ipokia area of the state.

    Placard carrying students marched from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) on Abiola Way to the Governor’s Office in protest.

    The demonstration was christened “Rescue Ogun State Education Campaign.”

    Some of the placards had inscriptions which read: “Save Ogun State Education”, “Education must survive” and “Mapoly must survive.”

    Amosun also said he would discuss with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic ( ASUP ) on the problems in the institution.

    He explained that students running various programmes at different levels would complete their studies and would not be taken to Ipokia.

    Amosun, however, said that there would not be automatic appointment for the aggrieved lecturers in both the university and the new polytechnic.

    “I am not happy because this is my school. What is happening today is because those that have been given the privilege to serve us are not serving well.

    “Everybody here will finish their courses; it will take four years before MAPOLY will go into extinction.

    “You are not going to Ipokia. If the lecturers don’t want that, we will sort them out.

    “We will seek for new lecturers for the university and the new polytechnic.

    “Mapoly lecturers are not comfortable with it. I said the appointment they have is for MAPOLY, for the new university, they will have to reapply.

    “If they are qualified, they can take them. I will ask the commissioner to meet them again,’’ he said.

    On the delayed examination, the governor stressed that the lecturers should explain why they decided to hold the students to ransom.

    He argued that the reason should not be because the state government created a new school.

    “We are only admitting ND1, if you have carryover, you are going to Ipokia. I told them (management), don’t admit new students to MAPOLY,” he said.

    He added that education would be free at the primary and secondary schools, adding that government would need to subsidise tertiary education.

    The governor said the state government was working hard to improve the standard and quality of education in the state.

    Earlier, Olawale Balogun, the NANS Chairman in Ogun, explained that the students were not happy with the standard of education in the state.

    Balogun urged the government to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

    He specifically mentioned the delay in the commencement of   examination at MAPOLY, saying the action would affect the career of the students.

    Balogun also decried the cancellation of the payment of Senior School Certificate Examination fee and the hike in the acceptance fee of Olabisi Onabanjo University ( OOU ), Ago-Iwoye.

    Meanwhile, the Rector of the school, Prof. Oladele Itiola, has proceeded on his terminal leave.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, announced the appointment of  Mr Ayodeji Salimon  as the Acting Rector of the school.

    NAN

  • U.S. Republican lawmaker resigns after sex scandal

    U.S. Republican lawmaker resigns after sex scandal

    U.S. Republican Congressman Tim Murphy has announced his resignation after his affair with a young woman came to light, official statement said on Friday.

    “Upon further discussion with my family, I have made the decision to resign my position,’’ Murphy, an eight-term member of the House of Representatives, serving since 2003, said.

    The statement came one day after the 65-year-old said he would not seek re-election to Congress at the end of his current term, which would terminate in 15 months.

    The shifting position was the result of the House Republican leadership urging Murphy, who represents Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district, to step down, considering him a distraction as the party fights for a major tax reform.

    “I’ve spoken with Tim quite a bit the last couple of days.

    “I think it’s appropriate that he moves on to the next chapter of his life,’’ House Speaker Paul Ryan told a press conference prior to Murphy’s resignation.

    In September Murphy admitted to an affair with a woman half his age.

    The couple’s text message exchanges reported by the U.S. media showed Murphy had asked the woman to abort their unborn child.

    It came as a devastating political blow as Murphy had been an active advocate of anti-abortion laws.

    “I’ve never written them, staffers do them, I read them and winced.

    “I told staff not to write anymore,’’ Murphy said of the anti-abortion statements released in his name after the woman complained of his inconsistent stance.

    NAN

  • NUT urges KDSG to pay backlog of salary arrears

    NUT urges KDSG to pay backlog of salary arrears

    As teachers celebrate World Teachers’ Day, the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ), has urged the state government to pay salary arrears owed its members.

    “Some teachers in Kaduna State are owed up to 11 months salary arrears; we think this is unfair,” Mr Audu Amba, the NUT chairman in the state, said on Thursday in Kaduna, at an event organised to mark the day.

    Amba equally decried the consistent delay in the payment of local government teachers’ salaries.

    “Sometimes, teachers are paid two or three weeks after other workers have received their salaries. We find this disappointing,” he said.

    The chairman also urged government to pay teachers the balance of 2015 leave grant, as well as the 2016 leave grant that was still being awaited.

    “Ten per cent of teachers’ salary is deducted monthly and paid to them as their leave grant at the end of the year; paying the grant should actually be a right and not a privilege,” he said.

    Amba called for more training and re-training of teachers, especially those in primary schools, so as to boost the quality of service delivery.

    He said that the theme of the 2017 teachers day, “Teaching in Freedom: Empowering Teachers”, was to emphasise the need for a free teaching atmosphere.

    “Teaching in freedom will encourage teachers to discharge their primary responsibilities of imparting knowledge, skills and character on the younger generation,” he explained.

    Amba, nonetheless, commended the state government for the the massive rehabilitation and furnishing of public schools, and also lauded the unprecedented budgetary allocation of more than 33 per cent to the education sector.

    “That huge budgetary allocation far exceeds the UNESCO recommendation of 26 percent,” he noted.

    NAN

  • 38 classrooms, 22 health centres constructed in Plateau in 2016

    38 classrooms, 22 health centres constructed in Plateau in 2016

    The Plateau office of Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), constructed and furnished 38 classrooms and 22 primary health centres in 2016, Mr Samuel Damla, the Coordinator, has said.

    Damla told newsmen on Thursday in Jos that it also constructed 17 boreholes and seven VIP toilets.

    According to him, the projects are spread across various communities in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Shendam, Kanke and Jos North Local Government Areas.

    “The projects are mostly in the rural ares because our mandate is to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the rural communities, especially in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation.

    “We have also constructed boreholes and VIP toilets to promote personal hygiene in some of the communities,” he said.

    He said that the SDGs office trained 2,000 youths on Google digital production and programming this year, and explained that the training would empower the youths with the requisite knowledge to harness the potential of the digital world.

    “The digital world has lots of opportunities and could create many employment opportunities,” he said.

    He said that funds would soon be made available to the SDGs office following the payment of N600 million counterpart funds by the state government.

    “We intend to pay more attention to addressing the menace of erosion and deforestation and support people venturing into agriculture in 2018,” he stated.

  • Don’t participate in the d**k or p*ss* challenge

    Don’t participate in the d**k or p*ss* challenge

    The latest social phenomenon taking over 2017 is none other than the “for that d**k/p*ss*” challenge.

    This challenge was inspired by New Orleans rapper, GameOva Reedy’s freestyle in April 2017. It became an online sensation took off last week and has been trending non-stop.

    The #ForTheD**k or #ForTheP*ss* challenge, depending on your gender/sexual orientation, has been going increasingly viral. You know that’s the case when celebrities of all kinds begin to take a stab at it.

    This challenge might seem all cheeky and rosy, but if you’re not careful, you might get into trouble.

    Here you find everyone talking about what they can do for the opposite genitals and sacrifices they’ve made for it.

    But then, what exactly do we derive from this challenge? How does it add to our lives?

    Here are a few reasons you shouldn’t engage in the d**k/p*ss* challenge:

    1. It adds nothing to your life

    The challenge does not make you better, greater or more knowledgeable. It just gives off the wrong impression and makes you appear indecent.

    People begin to see and perceive you in a certain light that might not be societally acceptable.

    It does not put food on your table, it does not make you a better person,so why engage in it?

    2. It promotes Immorality

    The use of vulgar words in the challenge is highly unacceptable.

    Mentioning sensitive parts of the human body in a ribald and jocular manner promotes immorality especially among the youth.

    In a way, It could embolden people (especially teenagers) to begin to attempt (sexually) things they have never done just because it was mentioned in the d**k/p***y challenge.

    3. It could Implicate you

    Imagine a scenario where you apply for a job and you’re asked for your social media IDs.

    The company digs into your Instagram or Facebook account, only to have their already primed buds turned sour by your sultry, explicit and overwhelmingly grotesque demonstration of bestial tendencies all in the name of an online trend.

    The writer do not intend to put on the garb of a seer, but your guess is almost as good as the writer’s – You will not get the Job!

    4. It adds nothing to your Résumé

    As clichéd as this might sound, the challenge is not something you get to win an award for, or becomes an important condiment in the overall aesthetics of your résumé.

    Will it make you trend on social media? Yes! Will it make you go viral for a while? Absolutely Yes! The question now is – what next?

    5. It’s makes you just like everyone

    What happened to being different? Must you do what everyone is doing?

    Just because everyone is doing the challenge does not mean you should join them…dare to be different.

    Be original.

    6. It’s just vulgar

    It is too vulgar and dirty for the masses.

    You can’t try that challenge in a formal environment…it’s just gross!

    You’ll be shy and embarrassed if a video of yourself trying out the challenge is brought up in a formal environment or in front of your boss.

    So, why do you engage in the challenge? It’s unnecessary!

    7. It corrupts the minds of the innocent

    The challenge just makes things worse for the youths morally.

    When our young unsuspecting, innocent and vulnerable ones are exposed to it, they might be pressured into engaging in all sorts of sexually acts, even the ones who have not been defiled begin to see this as a way of life, and try to imitate the rest of the world in this gross misconduct!

    8. The challenge marks you off as indecent!

    Once people watch videos of you participating in it, they just dismiss you as an unserious person and a freak for the d**k or p***y.

    Maybe you lied about the lengths you could go for the d**k or p***y, my brother and sister, it’s really none of our business!!!

    For all we care, that is WHO YOU ARE.

    We simply see you as one who has no self-control or shame

    Well, The d**k/p***y challenge has not made anyone better…please don’t engage in it!

  • Group urge youths and teens to stand out

    Group urge youths and teens to stand out

    A non-governmental organisation, The Sought out Generation Foundation has challenged youths and teens to stand out.

    The foundation’s empowerment seminar last Saturday at the Lespoir School, Ojokoro, Lagos,  focused on the theme: “How to use your career to influence your generation”.

    Its founder, Miss Afolabi Boboye, said its mission was to educate teenagers and youths about things they were unaware of.

    “If you look around you successful people have stories to tell,” said Miss Boboye.

    The guest speakers shared their live experiences to motivate the participants not to give up on life.

    One of them, Dr Martins Adeyemi, who holds a PhD in Mathematics and Statistics, urged the young ones to draw closer to God.

    “In order to use your career to influence your generation, you must improve your relationship with God”, he said, adding that their future would be determined by what they do now.

    He also made reference to exploration and experience.

    Mr Kayode Alao, Actor and movie producer, Kingdom Vision Media Network, in his speech spoke about being organised.

    “If what you do is something you cannot put organisation in then you cannot impact in your society. What you do must be legitimate. And also you must develop a mindset of helping others”.

    The youths and teens were told not to underrate themselves and be determined never to give up.

    Mrs Funmilola Adegboye, Career Guardiance Counselor, also advised them to identity their professionalism in order to make impact with what they do.

    The empowerment seminar ended with Mr Moses Emorinken ( a motivational speaker and entrepreneur) giving his powerful speech that literally set everyone on the journey to taking massive action. The journalist counseled the youths to know their value in life.

  • I am here to stay (Get Motivated!)

    I am here to stay (Get Motivated!)

    I am here to stay.

    Life is more than merely existing; it is about LIVING for something and probably DYING for what you believe in.

    It goes beyond the threshold of breathing; it is about breathing value and life into everything, person or group that comes in contact with you.

    A lot of people never get to manifest their greatness so much so that when they leave this earth nobody ever know they left not to talk of missing them because their level of contribution and consciousness is so small. Of a truth, we can all do great things only if we dare or attempt it.

    When you close your eyes, where or what do you see? Do you see yourself consciously walking and working in the direction of your dreams or are you merely shadowing in the pedestrian and predictable steps of others, that is, your employers, bosses, parents etc.

    We all have our ‘inner demons’.

    Our inner demons most of the time looks exactly like us especially when we look into the mirror. They exist in several forms and expressions like procrastination, laziness, excuses, negligence etc.

    As children, we had great and amazing dreams and aspirations. We did not have the tinniest modicum of doubt in our ability to live our dreams. As far as we were concerned, the world was under our feet and was ours to be taken.

    However, as we grew, we began to easily fit into the conditioning of our environment.

    We have been told that our dreams are too big and our connections and finances are too small.

    If you had to evaluate your life and the results you have produced, would you score an A, B, C, D, E or an outright ‘F’…just saying!

    We should set targets and not settle for less until we get what we want; until things work in the direction of our expectations.

    Learn to bargain with life for exactly what you want and be ready to PAY THE PRICE once you have set the terms and wages from life.

    There is a quote by Tony Gaskins that says “know who you are, know what you want, know what you deserve and don’t settle for less”.

    Say to yourself…My inner demon is ******* and I am ready to fight it because “I AM HERE STAY”.

  • Fadama III: World Bank earmarks $50m in North-East

    Fadama III: World Bank earmarks $50m in North-East

    The World Bank says it has earmarked 50 million dollars to fast track the implementation of Fadama III, Lead Economist Tunji Oredipe has disclosed.

    Oredipe made this known during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the bank, Fadama III and Borno Government on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    Oredipe said that the funds were provided to support Fadama programmes, enhance food assistance, provide livelihoods and facilitate the rehabilitation of infrastructure in communities ravaged by the insurgents.

    He said that 27 local government areas selected from Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe were expected to participate in the programme.

    Oredipe added that Maiduguri and Jere Local Government areas were selected as pilot areas of the projects in Borno.

    He explained that about 192,000 people were expected to benefit from the programme in the participating states.

    “The aim is to increase crop production, provide skills training, income generating activities and build resilience.

    “The programme will also provide cash support to encourage food security and nutrition.”

    According to him, the bank is working in collaboration with World Food Programme (WFP) and International Community of Red Crescent to address food and humanitarian crisis in the region.

    Gov. Kashim Shettima commended the gesture, noting that it would go a long way to address the humanitarian crisis in the region.

    Shettima said that about 7,500 households would participate in the pilot project in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government areas.

    The governor, who noted that the programme would assist in reducing poverty, hunger and diseases, also commended the WFP, World Bank and other organisations for their humanitarian interventions in the state.

    NAN